Crispy pan-fried asparagus is coated in seasoned panko breadcrumbs and fried until golden.
It’s a crowd-pleasing appetizer or side dish that’s perfect for parties, holidays, or Game Day. For maximum decadence, serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
(Prefer a lighter option? Air fryer instructions are included in the notes section. Or try my air fryer asparagus without breading for a simpler alternative.)
Are you a big asparagus fan like me? Then you’re going to LOVE this breaded asparagus.
It’s a fun way to make the most of the verdant green spears popping up at the farmers market or in your weekly CSA during asparagus season.
They are crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and pan-fried to perfection.
Just one taste, and my husband said it was his all-time favorite way to eat asparagus.
Asparagus fries are perfect as a party appetizer, easy side dish, or finger food. Great for dunking in spicy chili crisp dipping sauce!
In this recipe:
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe.
Asparagus: Look for spears that are uniform color, plump, and firm with tightly closed tips. Avoid any with mushy tips or sliminess, as those are signs of spoilage.
For easiest dunking, choose spears that aren’t ultra skinny. But in a pinch, any width will work.
Kitchen staples: All-purpose flour and baking powder. Baking powder helps with lightness, crispiness, and browning in the breading.
Panko breadcrumbs: For the crispiest coating, I recommend Japanese-style panko breadcrumbs. If necessary, you can replace panko with standard breadcrumbs.
Seasonings: Dried basil, paprika, granulated garlic, granulated onion, salt, and pepper.
Oil: I recommend a neutral-flavored, high heat oil like avocado oil. (If you’re air frying, avocado oil spray works well.)
Step by step instructions
This section shows how to make this recipe at a glance with process photos of the steps. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.
1. Rinse & dry asparagus with a clean kitchen towel. Then remove the tough bottoms of each asparagus stalk (about 1 to 2 inches from end).
Not sure how much of the asparagus to trim? Hold a spear with both hands and bend near the bottom until it snaps. This shows where the tough part ends. Use it as a guide to trim the rest with a sharp knife.
If the spears are long, you can cut them into halves or 5 to 6-inch pieces for easier breading.
2. Make a breading station.
In a shallow, small to medium-sized bowl, combine:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Water
You want it to be the consistency of pancake batter.
On a dinner plate, combine:
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Dried basil
- Dried oregano
- Paprika
- Granulated garlic (or garlic powder)
- Granulated onion (or onion powder)
- Salt
Pro tip: Wet panko won’t stick well. To keep it dry, divide the breadcrumb mixture onto 2 to 3 plates. As one gets soggy, switch to a fresh plate for better breading.
3. Dip each asparagus spear into the batter, and tap off the excess. Then dredge each one in the panko mixture, until fully coated on all sides.
To keep messes to a minimum, use one hand for dipping in dry ingredients and one hand for wet.
4. Pour a half inch to an inch of oil into a large skillet and bring to a medium high heat.
Test to see if the oil is hot enough: Drop a breadcrumb into the oil. If bubbles immediately form around the breadcrumb, it’s hot enough for frying.
Add breaded asparagus to the oil, being careful not to overfill. (You’ll likely need to cook in batches.)
Fry for about 5 minutes, stopping occasionally to turn the spears with a spatula or tongs, until they are golden brown on all sides.
Once fully browned, move them to a towel-lined plate to dry, sprinkle with salt, and serve.
Air fryer option
Prefer to air fry? This appetizer is great that way too!
Put the breaded asparagus spears into the air fryer basket in a single shallow layer, being careful not to overcrowd.
Tip: You’ll need to cook the asparagus fries in batches. When air fryer baskets are over-filled the air can’t flow as well, and the asparagus won’t brown as nicely or quickly.
Spray with oil and air fry at 400 degrees for 7 to 9 minutes (or until fully browned). Stop occasionally to carefully flip the spears with tongs. Oil spray any parts that aren’t browned.
Remember: Every air fryer runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own air fryer. Adjust as needed.
Make it your own
You can make this inviting fried appetizer your own by varying the ingredients.
Vary the seasonings: Replace the dried basil, paprika, granulated garlic, and granulated onion with any of the following:
- Italian seasoning blend
- Cajun seasoning salt
- Fox Point seasoning
- Onion salt or your favorite seasoning salt
- Add nutritional yeast flakes for cheesy flavor
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for spicy heat
Make it oil-free: If you’re air frying, you can omit the oil. The breaded asparagus won’t brown as nicely, but it will still be crispy.
Make it gluten-free: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, and replace standard panko with gluten-free panko. Or make my air fryer asparagus recipe without breading.
Dipping sauce recommendations
While you can enjoy this vegan asparagus appetizer all on its own, it’s infinitely more fun with a dipping sauce.
Here are a variety of dipping sauce options:
- Spicy chili crisp dipping sauce (My preferred choice for this dish!)
- Creamy onion & garlic dressing
- Vegan sriracha mayo
- Dairy-free ranch dressing
- Lemon garlic aioli
- Lemon dill sauce
- Cocktail sauce
- Vegan honey mustard
Serving ideas
Enjoy breaded asparagus as an appetizer or side dish with any of these mains or sides:
Storage and reheating instructions
Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container. They will keep for 3 or 4 days.
Reheat in the air fryer at 400 degrees for about 7 minutes, stopping once halfway through to gently flip.
FAQ
Keep fresh asparagus spears in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use them.
To keep them crisp, think of them like flowers. Cut off the ends and stand the spears upright in a tall round mug or glass with cold, fresh water and cover loosely with a plastic bag. Change the water every couple of days.
I don’t recommend using canned or frozen asparagus for this recipe. Both storage methods lead to more water and softness than you want for crispy asparagus fries.
For spicy breaded asparagus, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasoned panko breadcrumbs. Or serve the asparagus fries with a spicy dipping sauce like vegan chili crisp dipping sauce or vegan sriracha mayo.
Yes! Use the air frying cooking method, and don’t spray with oil. The breaded asparagus doesn’t brown as nicely without oil, but it will still be crispy and delicious.
Absolutely! Use my air fryer recipe for asparagus without breading. It uses just 3 ingredients!
After refrigerating, the asparagus and panko breadcrumb coating will soften. So be sure to air fry them long enough to crisp up again.
To reheat, I recommend air frying at 400 degrees for about 7 minutes or until perfectly crunchy on the outside.
If you try this recipe and love it, let me know! Leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section below. It truly makes my day and is such a help!
📖 Recipe
Crispy breaded pan-fried asparagus (air fryer optional)
Ingredients
- 16 ounces asparagus
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- Several pinches of salt divided
- 6 to 8 Tablespoons water
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs plus more if necessary
- 1 teaspoon dried basil plus more if necessary
- 1 teaspoon paprika plus more if necessary
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder, plus more if necessary
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion or onion powder, plus more if necessary
- Avocado oil liquid for pan frying or spray for air frying
Instructions
- Rinse asparagus and move to a clean kitchen towel to blot dry. (The breading sticks better when the spears are dry.) Cut an inch or two off the bottom of each stalk to remove the tough, woody ends. If the spears are especially long, you can cut them into halves or 5 to 6-inch pieces for easier breading. Then set aside.
- Now it's time to make a breading station with a shallow bowl (like a cereal bowl) for batter, a plate for seasoned breadcrumbs, and a plate for the breaded asparagus as they are finished. In the bowl, use a fork or whisk to combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, a pinch of salt, and 6 Tablespoons of water. After the batter is mixed, slowly add 2 more Tablespoons of water, as needed. You want the batter to have the consistency of pancake batter with no lumps.
- Then on a dinner plate, combine panko bread crumbs, dried basil, dried oregano, paprika, granulated garlic, granulated onion, and a pinch of salt.Pro tip: Panko adheres best when it's dry. So it can be handy to divide the seasoned panko breadcrumb mixture onto 2 or 3 separate plates. As you finish one plate, you can grab another one with completely dry panko.
- One at a time, dip each asparagus spear into the batter and fully coat it. Tap off any excess batter. Then dredge it in the panko bread crumb mixture until it's coated all over. Continue breading each one until they are finished.(If you run out of panko breadcrumbs, add more to the plate, along with a pinch of each of the seasonings.) Tip: For less mess when breading, use one hand for wet & one for dry. By always dipping one hand into the wet batter and the other into the dry panko, you will have less clean up while you bread the asparagus.As you finish each one, set the breaded asparagus spear on the separate final plate.
- Bring a large non-stick skillet to a medium high heat with about a half inch to an inch of avocado oil (or other high heat oil). Drop a breadcrumb into the oil to see if it's hot enough. If bubbles immediately form around it, it's ready to use. Put the breaded asparagus into the oil, being careful not to overcrowd. (You'll need to fry in batches. If the skillet is overcrowded, they won't brown as well.) Fry for about 5 minutes, occasionally turning with a spatula or tongs. (Don't move them until they brown.)Once they are brown all over, transfer the fried asparagus spears to a towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.Continue frying the remaining breaded asparagus. Because the oil gets hotter as you go, the second batch may cook more quickly. Keep an eye on it to avoid burning.
- Put the fried asparagus on a serving platter and finish with another pinch of salt. Serve with spicy vegan chili crisp dipping sauce or your preferred sauce.
Shell
We have been enjoying asparagus at our house often lately and this variation is a crowd favorite for sure!
Cadry Nelson
Excellent! I’m so glad to hear it!